Aggie for a day

Okay, I promise this is my last post today. I need to stop procrastinating with my blog.
I wanted to write about my Aggieland experience. It has been too long since my last 30 things at 30 checklist, and unfortunately, I need to change my list to 30 things at 30 something.
So here is my twenty-sixth thing:

26. Go to a college football game 9-7-13

Caitlin invited me to go to an Aggie game with her since Ryan couldn't go. Plus she knew from my list that I have never been to a college football game (let alone a NFL game). I was actually pretty excited and a bit apprehensive. Excited because sports are much more fun and exciting if you go see it and apprehensive because I didn't know what to expect and so many people around me were just looking at me like, "Oh, just wait and see."

Anyway, we started our mini road trip to College Station that Saturday morning.

The weather was great! (in the morning...)

On our way, we went through Waco and Caitlin stopped so I could see the real (!) bears at Baylor! Who knew! Apparently everyone except me! Even my student knew there were bears there.

I wish I had gone here...

Then we were on the road again to College Station! Caitlin pointed out a famous barn that decorates on every game day:

And then it started:

Flags everywhere.

Customized SEC car.

And customized TOMs

I had to be use my paparazzi skills to take this pic because Caitlin loved it so much. We stopped by a tent sale of shirts and another shop and I bought 2 shirts and 1 long sleeve shirt. I go one day and I'm already into Aggie gear.

 Before the game, we went to eat at Potato Shack! I finally got to try it! My mouth is watering just thinking of it...

 Potato, cheese, buffalo chicken, and ranch? How can you say no to that?

We also stopped by a cute shop before heading to the campus:

 Love these stairs..

And walked on the famous bottle caps...

 

Finally we arrived.

As we walked around the campus and in the student memorial building, I began to see why people gave me those knowing looks. It is a different world. Almost everyone I saw was wearing an Aggie shirt. It was a sea of maroon. I knew I was still in Texas, but it didn't feel like Texas. 

The Century Tree

We waited inside before the game and met a nice older couple. And I mention the 'older' part because they kept mentioning a nice Chinese and sometimes Vietnamese boy named Kenny that was in the Color Guard.
And apparently I must be Filipino because of my yellow hair (or maybe it was yellow skin?). Well, I was not offended but wow, I have not been called Oriental since I was like 7. Caitlin kept apologizing on their behalf which was hilarious.

Before the game

The stadium is pretty freakin' awesome. 

Front row!!! How cool is that? :)

BTHO Sam Houston State!

And then my phone died. It's like Harry Potter all over again. Luckily Caitlin had her camera to take pictures during the game. Check it out here: Life and Love in Wonderland.

 Reflection:

This was definitely an interesting experience. I never had a true college experience because I went to UTD. I didn't have school pride or school spirit, never joined any clubs or integrated into the student body. I just commuted to school and used the library to study. Sometimes.

Being at A&M and even seeing the Baylor campus has a different feel. I got to experience what it would have been like to go to a college game, cheer for my team, and have that sense of comradery. It sounds a bit silly, but I felt like that at the game. I definitely want my future kid to have that true college experience.

My favorite part of the day was yelling the cheers (even though I had no idea what I was doing), seeing the yell leaders, seeing the band perform, and actually getting excited when they were playing well. If you know anything about me, I do not get excited for football.
The rain was unexpected but it was actually preferable to the heat. I'd rather get rained on than sweat. I joked that I was the only Asian there and we kept trying to find Kenny. I think we found him. 3 times.

Anyway, I'm so glad I got to experience what it's like to be an Aggie. Thank you Caitlin for taking me and to Ryan for those awesome seats. I still don't care for football, but at least now I don't hate it. And if I have to root for a team, it would have to be the Fighting Farmers! :)


It's a little chilly today. I think I'll wear my Aggie shirt.

:)

TMI midnight showing

So I spent most of the last part of my summer reading TMI. I was obsessed. I read those books back to back. I didn't sleep. I sometimes forgot to eat (which is surprising for me). And when I heard they were making the CoB movie, I fell in with the fandom and did fan girl things like looking up the actors, watching endless videos, interviews, clips, and reading articles on movie news, entering sweepstakes, pinning countless photos, collecting memorabilia, crafting, and on and on and on. The movie got SO much hype, and I was counting down the days until the midnight showing.

I was so excited, I took a picture of the poster!

 Tickets!

 Diy Toms!

Took a screen shot when it was time!

Well, I was disappointed. I hate to say that because it was a fun experience but the movie just did not do justice to the book which really stinks because it is such a great series. The movie was just too cheesy and trivial.

There were some good things: Robbie who plays Simon was great; he literally is Simon. Lily Collins IS Clary. Looks-wise Jamie CB IS Jace (he was a bit awkward in some parts, and for me, too serious at times). I'm not so sure about Isabelle though. Jemima is a great actress and I love her, but I don't know if she fits that role. Isabelle should be more lighthearted and vulnerable. She was too grave in the first film.

The bad: The CGI was terrible. The Midnight Flower scene which should have been epic, was so cheesy! I heard the director didn't want to rely on CGI too heavily and had them physically do the fight scenes. Why couldn't they do that for the flowers?! Like a time lapse video or something? And there was just too much changed from the book. I understand if little details must be changed, but don't put totally new and random scenes in there! Ugh. And Valentine with dreads?! He's supposed to have WHITE HAIR. At least give him normal brown or black hair. He is not Jamaican, people.

The funny: We met some cool 16 year old girls while we were sitting in line (and talked about the film, book, Dr. Who, Harry Potter, etc.). I felt SO old, but it was fun. They were like, "Omgosh! You guys are the coolest teachers!" Haha

I hope this doesn't sound like a rant post. I so badly wanted this movie to be good and I still support all the actors, director, etc. and of course the book series. It just didn't live up to my expectations.

Anyway, all that being said, I really hope the second film gets better. I'm not sure what happened to CoB. Something just wasn't right. It wasn't authentic enough. I didn't like the script. I really think that makes or breaks a movie. Someone please take over. And give Cassandra Clare more power over that. Because if they decide to go in the same direction, I'm afraid this movie series is going to tank.

Kidd's Kids Concert

I decided to separate my posts because I haven't written in a while, and I don't want to do a smorgasbord post again.

I went to the Kidd's Kids concert last month and it was bittersweet with the passing of Kidd Kraddick. I have listened to him for many, many years and was shocked when I heard he was gone. Sometimes you don't realize the impact someone has in your life until they are no longer in it.

From left clockwise: Performers, concert poster, girls we saw with cute costumes, Kelly (!) and the morning crew, and Jina and me before the show.

The performers were: Jason Derulo, Cimorelli, Andy Grammar, Tim Halperin, and the Jonas Brothers.

My favorite performer was by far Andy Grammar. He had such charisma and he killed his performances. Love love love him. Jason Derulo was also cool to see. Now, I didn't know the Jonas brothers were going to be there. It was very hard on my ears when they came out. Because apparently their whole fan base came and started screaming in my ear. Both ears. They weren't that great, honestly (sorry teen girls). I guess I'm too old for that now.

 Tim Halperin, Cimorelli, Andy Grammar, and Jason Derulo

The Jonas Brothers

We both bought shirts that had the show's outro on it. I actually first heard Ziggy the cartoon say it when I was little. It says, "Keep looking up, 'cause that's where it all is."

It's been a hard couple of weeks for me personally. But no matter what happens I need to remember God is for me and he has a plan for me. So I will keep looking up.